Internet-based home security?

Now that’s “smart”

BY TARA ERWIN

According to Pew Research, twenty-seven percent of Americans aged sixty and older live alone and forty-six percent live with a spouse or partner. Smart home security systems can provide valuable peace of mind for them, their families, and their caregivers. These systems not only ease safety concerns surrounding crime, but also monitor well-being.

While devices and services run the gamut from basic to Jetsons-like space age technology, we’ve narrowed the search to focus on foundational products and services geared toward a do-it-yourselfer with a bit of tech knowledge. Choosing the right provider and equipment can be daunting, so below is a breakdown of needed accessories, types of services, and things to consider when outfitting a home:

The basics. To equip your home with any smart technology, you’ll need internet access and Wi-Fi. Any baseline service from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) like Verizon or Spectrum will provide the bandwidth needed to power these devices; a hard- wired router can provide an additional layer of protection. Your ISP may offer a combination modem/router with its internet package, or you can purchase one separately; they retail for $50 and up. And of course, you’ll also need a device—computer, laptop, tablet, or smart phone—to monitor your data. The latter two offer the convenience of watching your home and controlling your security remotely.

Getting started. The most important factor in choosing a system is compatibility. Do a little research to determine your preferences, then save money and prevent potential headaches by sticking with one carrier, like Amazon Ring or Google Nest; this will ensure maximum coverage and ease of use. Choosing is based on circumstances and needs, but here are two points to keep in mind: Nest is the best value for monthly monitoring while Ring has the widest range of add-ons for whole house automation.

Circle of trust. The beauty of cloud-based security devices is that you can give anyone in the world access to your information. While that may sound intrusive, it offers extra security to know, for example, that your son in Arizona can monitor real-time footage of your front door or your home health aide will receive an alert if your carbon monoxide detector goes off. Homeowners can enable and disable who can gain entry to the data at any point, for any amount of time, and even assign parameters around what types of information others can see (only certain cameras, sound only, etc.). Some services even offer subscriptions that will alert local authorities when alarms or triggers go off.

Let there be light. As a first step, outfitting your home with smart light bulbs is well…smart. Control when and where your lights are turned on from a smart phone or app? Check. Set timers and/or create schedules for lights to go on and off at different times and in different rooms? Check.

Synchronize lights to sensors so they turn on and off automatically when you enter or leave a room? Check. Activate voice commands or use wireless remotes for lighting (especially useful for those with limited mobility)? Check. Philips Hue is the most popular brand, but there are others out there as well. Not just for shopping. In addition to playing music and letting you know when packages are arriving, Alexa Echo has a Guard setting, a free feature that when enabled, uses its built-in microphone to detect the sounds of smoke or carbon monoxide alarms and breaking glass, then send a notification to a mobile phone. Ring’s monitoring service includes an option to request help from first responders or emergency contacts; even if you don’t have the service, you can still sound a siren to alert others in the house.

Smile for the camera. Security cameras are easy to install and only need a nearby outlet to power them. An electric doorbell system can be installed with some rudimentary wiring skills, or around $100 to pay a professional; battery versions are also an option. Cameras are sound/ motion activated and allow you to view who’s at your door and answer through an intercom, even if you’re not home. You can also receive alerts and video to your devices, as well as save footage for a finite time or indefinitely, depending on storage space or service options.

Of course, if you’d rather leave home security to the pros, many companies will install and monitor for you, like ADT, Omni, or Shield. Take time to research each option carefully, assess contract obligations, options for purchasing/leasing equipment, and what kind of packages and customizations are available. There are no right or wrong answers, so ask questions and choose a plan that works for you. And if you find any that offer robot housekeeping/maid capabilities like Rosie Jetson, let us know. FY